Tech's School of Nursing celebrating 25 years of service

The School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is honoring its 25th birthday with a two-day celebration and alumni reunion beginning Friday.

Since opening in 1981 with 83 students, the nursing program has grown to a student population of 963 today.

During that period, the School of Nursing has awarded more than 2,700 bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing.

The celebration will kick off with an anniversary luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Merket Alumni Center. The lunch will be followed by a tour of the Larry Combest Community Health and Wellness Center and the Health Sciences Center.

Later Friday evening, there will be a gala at the Texas Tech University Museum starting at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, there will be a luncheon and book signing, featuring current and former HSC nursing professors who have authored books.

The celebration will move to the United Spirit Arena on Saturday afternoon for the Lady Raiders basketball game.

The School of Nursing offers a variety of degree options and specialties, including a bachelor of science in registered nursing, an online bachelor of science in registered nursing and a masters of science in nursing.

The school also recently began offering a second degree program, which allows people who have already earned an undergraduate degree to earn a nursing degree through an accelerated one-year program.

The school is also planning to begin offering a doctorate of nursing practice within the next couple years. The program is currently pending approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

For more information, log onto www.ttuhsc.edu/alumni/reunionevents/ or call 743-4288.

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This story first appeared on LubbockOnline.com at 6:03 p.m. Wednesday.